The Federal Government has shut down 22 illegal Colleges of Education operating across the country, following a nationwide crackdown on unaccredited institutions.
The operation, carried out by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), uncovered schools issuing certificates without due approval. The action stemmed from the commission’s recent audit and monitoring exercise, which also reviewed personnel and financial operations in all 21 federal colleges of education.
The move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to education regulators to stamp out “degree mills” undermining the credibility of Nigeria’s academic system. Speaking at the 14th convocation of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja, the President — represented by the Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Rakiya Ilyasu — condemned unlicensed schools as “certificate millers” that endanger academic integrity.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening collaboration among key agencies, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). According to him, these bodies are now working in synergy to improve standards and curb cases of forgery and unrecognised certificates, both locally and internationally.
“The integrity of our academic system must not be compromised,” the President stressed, assuring that decisive steps are being taken to safeguard students, parents, and employers from fraudulent institutions.